按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
grateful smile。
〃You came down just now； mother；〃 replied the young girl； with a
blush。
〃Would you like us to accompany you all the way downstairs？〃
asked the mother。 〃The stairs are dark。〃
〃No； thank you； indeed； madame； I am much better。〃
〃Hold tightly by the rail。〃
The two women remained on the landing to light the young man；
listening to the sound of his steps。
In order to set forth clearly all the exciting and unexpected
interest this scene might have for the young painter； it must be
told that he had only a few days since established his studio in
the attics of this house； situated in the darkest and； therefore；
the most muddy part of the Rue de Suresnes； almost opposite the
Church of the Madeleine； and quite close to his rooms in the Rue
des Champs…Elysees。 The fame his talent had won him having made
him one of the artists most dear to his country； he was beginning
to feel free from want； and to use his own expression； was
enjoying his last privations。 Instead of going to his work in one
of the studios near the city gates； where the moderate rents had
hitherto been in proportion to his humble earnings； he had
gratified a wish that was new every morning； by sparing himself a
long walk； and the loss of much time； now more valuable than
ever。
No man in the world would have inspired feelings of greater
interest than Hippolyte Schinner if he would ever have consented
to make acquaintance； but he did not lightly entrust to others
the secrets of his life。 He was the idol of a necessitous mother；
who had brought him up at the cost of the severest privations。
Mademoiselle Schinner； the daughter of an Alsatian farmer； had
never been married。 Her tender soul had been cruelly crushed；
long ago； by a rich man； who did not pride himself on any great
delicacy in his love affairs。 The day when； as a young girl； in
all the radiance of her beauty and all the triumph of her life；
she suffered； at the cost of her heart and her sweet illusions；
the disenchantment which falls on us so slowly and yet so
quicklyfor we try to postpone as long as possible our belief in
evil； and it seems to come too soonthat day was a whole age of
reflection； and it was also a day of religious thought and
resignation。 She refused the alms of the man who had betrayed
her； renounced the world； and made a glory of her shame。 She gave
herself up entirely to her motherly love； seeking in it all her
joys in exchange for the social pleasures to which she bid
farewell。 She lived by work； saving up a treasure for her son。
And； in after years； a day； an hour repaid her amply for the long
and weary sacrifices of her indigence。
At the last exhibition her son had received the Cross of the
Legion of Honor。 The newspapers； unanimous in hailing an unknown
genius； still rang with sincere praises。 Artists themselves
acknowledged Schinner as a master； and dealers covered his
canvases with gold pieces。 At five…and…twenty Hippolyte Schinner；
to whom his mother had transmitted her woman's soul； understood
more clearly than ever his position in the world。 Anxious to
restore to his mother the pleasures of which society had so long
robbed her； he lived for her； hoping by the aid of fame and
fortune to see her one day happy； rich； respected； and surrounded
by men of mark。 Schinner had therefore chosen his friends among
the most honorable and distinguished men。 Fastidious in the
selection of his intimates； he desired to raise still further a
position which his talent had placed high。 The work to which he
had devoted himself from boyhood； by compelling him to dwell in
solitudethe mother of great thoughtshad left him the
beautiful beliefs which grace the early days of life。 His
adolescent soul was not closed to any of the thousand bashful
emotions by which a young man is a being apart； whose heart
abounds in joys； in poetry； in virginal hopes； puerile in the
eyes of men of the world； but deep because they are single…
hearted。
He was endowed with the gentle and polite manners which speak to
the soul； and fascinate even those who do not understand them。 He
was well made。 His voice； coming from his heart； stirred that of
others to noble sentiments； and bore witness to his true modesty
by a certain ingenuousness of tone。 Those who saw him felt drawn
to him by that attraction of the moral nature which men of
science are happily unable to analyze； they would detect in it
some phenomenon of galvanism； or the current of I know not what
fluid； and express our sentiments in a formula of ratios of
oxygen and electricity。
These details will perhaps explain to strong…minded persons and
to men of fashion why； in the absence of the porter whom he had
sent to the end of the Rue de la Madeleine to call him a coach；
Hippolyte Schinner did not ask the man's wife any questions
concerning the two women whose kindness of heart had shown itself
in his behalf。 But though he replied Yes or No to the inquiries；
natural under the circumstances； which the good woman made as to
his accident； and the friendly intervention of the tenants
occupying the fourth floor； he could not hinder her from
following the instinct of her kind； she mentioned the two
strangers； speaking of them as prompted by the interests of her
policy and the subterranean opinions of the porter's lodge。
〃Ah；〃 said she； 〃they were； no doubt； Mademoiselle Leseigneur and
her mother； who have lived here these four years。 We do not know
exactly what these ladies do； in the morning； only till the hour
of noon； an old woman who is half deaf； and who never speaks any
more than a wall； comes in to help them； in the evening； two or
three old gentlemen； with loops of ribbon； like you； monsieur；
come to see them； and often stay very late。 One of them comes in
a carriage with servants； and is said to have sixty thousand
francs a year。 However； they are very quiet tenants； as you are；
monsieur； and economical！ they live on nothing； and as soon as a
letter is brought they pay for it。 It is a queer thing； monsieur；
the mother's name is not the same as the daughter's。 Ah； but when
they go for a walk in the Tuileries； mademoiselle is very smart；
and she never goes out but she is followed by a lot of young men；
but she shuts the door in their face； and she is quite right。 The
proprietor would never allow〃
The coach having come； Hippolyte heard no more； and went home。
His mother； to whom he related his adventure； dressed his wound
afresh； and would not allow him to go to the studio next day。
After taking advice； various treatments were prescribed； and
Hippolyte remained at home three days。 During this retirement his
idle fancy recalled vividly； bit by bit； the details of the scene
that had ensued on his fainting fit。 The young girl's profile was
clearly projected against the darkness of his inward vision； he
saw once more the mother's faded features； or he felt the touch
of Adela